It has been a year of first for Jonny Ngandu this year, as he has enjoyed a whirlwind of a twelve months for the Sky Blues.
Firstly, Jonny was sent out on loan to Icelandic side Keflavík where he was part of push for promotion before the season was curtailed due to the ongoing Covid-19 global pandemic.
Ngandu was then forced to wait for international clearance before he could return to the matchday squad.
Upon his arrival, Jonny was given the captains armband and has become a mainstay in Luke Tisdale’s Under-23s side.
“It was challenging at first when I was given the armband. I’m a first-year pro and you have to have a voice.
“There are lads in the dressing room who are older than me who have probably done more than me in football, so I had to adapt.
“It’s been good for me and my development and my confidence because I think I’ve found my voice and I’m louder on the pitch and I think I’m more involved.”
The loan spell away for the 18-year-old in another country forced the midfielder to move out of his comfort zone, something he believes helped him to come back a better player.
“The loan spell was good. I was the youngest player in the team, and I had to step up my game and it was a really good experience for me.
“It was hard in a way because I went on my own to another country and it was a challenge I relished whilst I was out there.
“I’ve never even lived by myself, so I had to grow up quickly and make friends, which probably helped me being captain now.”
Yesterday afternoon, Ngandu scored his fourth goal of the season in a 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic at Leamington’s Phillips 66 Community Stadium.
Jonny found himself in a tight area down the left-hand-side and he worked his way past one, then two and rifled the ball into the top corner.
“I thought first half it was hard for us to play our game, but as soon as they got the red card it opened up the game for the midfielders and that’s how we got in behind.
“Tyler and Matty made great runs all afternoon and that helped us to break them down and once we got the first goal, I thought we took control.
“I played the left-side of the diamond in midfield and I’ve only played that role this year and I enjoyed it, you get a lot of space and more freedom.
“To be fair before the goal I felt like one was coming because I hit the crossbar just a few minutes earlier.
“When I got the ball I saw the space open up and I wanted to see what I could do against the defence and then I finished with my right-foot as well which is good.”